Clothes hanger retaining device

ABSTRACT

A clothes hanger retaining device is described. The retaining device is comprised of an inverted trough shaped cover that is positioned over a clothes pole and clothes hangers and secured to the clothes pole by a strap moved about the clothes pole and then secured back to the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to devices for retaining clothes hangerson a clothes pole.

2. Prior Art

This invention relates generally to a clamping device used to secureclothes hangers to clothes poles thereby preventing the hangers frombecoming dislodged during movement. Such movement is common in arecreational vehicle or commercial garment-shipping container.

Previously, the retention of clothes hangers on clothes poles has beenaccomplished as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,145 and U.S. Pat. No.4,139,102. The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,102 solved theproblem of clothes hanger retention, however this prior art consisted ofmany component parts. The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,145performed a similar function but was not adaptable to existing clothespoles.

3. Objects and Advantages

The objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   (a) To provide a retaining device which has fewer components than    the prior art.-   (b) To provide a retaining device which is compatible with existing    clothes poles and hangers.-   (c) To provide a retaining device that is, in one embodiment,    adjustable in length.-   (d) To provide a retaining device which prevents the clothes hangers    from lateral movement beyond the confines of the device.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent froma consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a convenient, easily installedretaining device to prevent clothes hangers from becoming dislodged fromclothes poles during transit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the clothes hanger retaining device, showninstalled.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the clothes hanger retaining device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2, depicting section 3—3.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, depicting section 4—4.

FIG. 5 is a modified view of FIG. 4, showing the clothes hangerretaining device in a released position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention, showinga telescopically adjustable cover.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6, depicting section 7—7.

FIG. 8 shows top and side views of three embodiments of hook and loopstrap.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of aclothes hanger retaining device 10 according to the present invention.The retaining device 10 is used in conjunction with a horizontal pole 12supporting a plurality of clothes hangers 14 thereon. The clotheshangers 14 can have clothing articles such as pants, shirts, jackets andthe like hung thereon or the clothes hangers can be empty. To preventthe clothes hangers 14 from falling off of the pole 12, the retainingdevice 10 is draped over the neck 16 of each of the clothes hangers 14.The neck 16 is the portion of the clothes hanger 14 adjacent to the pole12. When the pole 12 is mounted in a motor home and the like, the unevenride of the motor home traveling on a road can cause the coat hangers tofall off of the pole 12, however, the present retaining device 10,prevents this from happening.

The retaining device 10 comprises an elongate cover 18 having an upperside 20 and a lower side 22 extending to spaced apart first and secondends 24 and 26 and front and back edges 28 and 30. In addition, thefirst and second ends have downward facing flanges 25 and 27 (FIGS. 2and 3). The cover 18 has a length sufficient to substantially blanketthe pole 12 with the first end 24 residing adjacent to a first polesupport 32 and a second end 26 residing adjacent to a second polesupport 34. While not shown in the drawings, the pole supports 32 and 34are extended to the inside walls of a closet and fastened thereon.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 18 blankets the neck portion 16 of thecoat hangers 14 with the front edge 28 adjacent to the terminus 36 ofthe hanger neck 16 and the back edge positioned adjacent to where theneck 16 of the hanger 14 attaches to the shoulder portion (not shown)supporting the clothes (not shown).

A series of openings are provided in the cover 18 about midway betweenthe first and second ends 24 and 26. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thefirst opening 38 resides proximate an apex point 40 of the cover 18draped over the clothes hangers 14 and the pole 12, but somewhat forwardtoward the front edge 28. A second opening 42 resides proximate the apexpoint 40 but somewhat back toward the back edge 30. The first and secondopenings 38 and 42 both have a longitudinal extent aligned with the pole12 that is only slightly larger than the width of the web 44 of asecuring strap 46. The openings 38 and 42 are also of a width onlyslightly larger than the thickness of a securing strap 46.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the strap 46 comprises the elongate web 44connected to a T-shaped head 48. One side of the Web is laminated withhook material 50 of a hook and loop type faster, while the other side ofthe web is laminated with loop material 52 of hook and loop typefastener. A suitable hook and loop type fastener is commerciallyavailable under the trade name Velcro®.

A third opening 54 is disposed between the second opening 42 and theback edge 30. The third opening 54 is only slightly wider than the widthof the web 44 of the strap 46. However, while the first and secondopenings 38 and 42 are dimensioned to have a somewhat larger widthperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cover 18, that is not thecase with the third opening 54. Instead, the third opening 54 has asubstantial extent perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cover18.

In use, the cover 18 is draped over the neck 16 of the hangers 14. Inthe drawings, the front edge 28 is shown adjacent to the terminus 36 ofthe hangers and the back edge 30 is adjacent to the hanger shoulderportion (not shown). However, this positioning is reversible.Nonetheless, the distal end of the strap web 44 is moved through thesecond opening 42 until the T-shaped head 48 contacts the lower side 22of the cover 18. The distal end 44A of the strap web 44 is then movedthrough the first opening 38 so that the strap hangs freely (FIG. 5). Inthis position, the loop surface 52 of the hook and loop type fastenerfaces upwardly. The distal end 44A of the web 44 is then moved upthrough the third opening 54 and brought around so that the hook portion50 of the hook and loop type fastener engages with loop surface 52. Thestrap 46 now substantially encircles the pole 12, thereby securing thecover 18 over the neck 16 of the hangers 14 (FIG. 4). The hangers 14 aretrapped between the cover 18 and the pole 12 held in place by theencircling strap 46.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the device, which isadjustable in length. The cover is composed of two telescopicallyengaged sections 56 and 58. The outer section 58 has a series ofopenings 60, 62 and 64, while the inner section 56 has a series ofopenings 66, 68 and 70, all of which are parallel to the axis of theclothes pole 12. The openings in the respective cover sections, 56 and58 are dimensioned to align with each other radially, facilitating theinsertion of the strap 46 as shown in FIG. 7.

In use, the strap is removed from the device. The cover sections 56 and58 are then slid relative to each other to align the openings in bothsections with one another, achieving the desired length. The strap 46 isthen inserted through the aligned openings in sections 56 and 58, aspreviously described, thereby holding in place the length adjustment.After the length adjustment desired is complete, the device is then usedas previously described.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the device, wherein the strap 72(FIGS. 8C and 8D) is fastened to the cover 18 by a rivet 76 through ahole 78 in the strap 72, and a hole 86 in the cover 18. In thisembodiment, the second opening 42 in the cover 18 shown in the firstembodiment is eliminated. The T-shaped head 48 of the strap 46 shown inthe first embodiment is also eliminated. It is also contemplated in thisthird embodiment that the strap 72 may be alternately attached to thecover 18 by adhesive, sewing, a button, a snap, or by plastic fusionmeans.

In use, this third embodiment functions the same as in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the device, wherein the strap 86(FIGS. 8E and 8F) is fastened to the cover 18 by looping throughopenings in the cover and then engaging to itself in this embodiment,the second opening 42 in the cover 18 shown in the first embodiment iseliminated. The T-shaped head 48 of the strap 46 shown in the firstembodiment is also eliminated. In this embodiment the first end of thestrap 88 is positioned on the outside of the cover 18 adjacent to thethird opening 54, between the first opening 38 and third opening 54. Thesecond end 90 of the strap 86 is then inserted through the first opening38 of the cover 18, looped around the inside portion of the coverbetween the first opening 38 and third opening 54, and inserted throughthe third opening 54. The hook side 92 of the strap 86 is then engagedto the loop side 94 of the strap at the first end 88 of the strap. Thesecond end 90 is then inserted through the first opening 38 again anddrawn taught, thus engaging the strap to itself from the first end ofthe strap 88 to the inside portion of the cover 18 at the first opening38. In this embodiment, the width of the first opening 38 must allowboth sections of the strap to be inserted through it.

In use, this fourth embodiment functions the same as in the firstembodiment.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

This invention provides a simple method for retaining clothes hangers toclothes poles. In addition, this invention is adaptable to existingclothes poles and hangers. While the description above contains manydetails, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention, but as a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Many variations are possible. For example, the shape of the cover couldbe changed to any configuration that would adequately restrict themovement of the clothes hangers when the device is installed. Multiplestraps could also be used to secure long sections of covers. Variousmethods could also be used to attach the strap to the cover, or thestrap to the clothes pole. Accordingly, the scope of the inventionshould be determined by the claims, not the specifics of the preferredembodiment.

1. A clothes hanger retaining device for retaining at least one clotheshanger on a clothes pole, the clothes hanger retaining devicecomprising: a cover comprising an upper side and a lower side extendingto spaced apart first and second ends and front and back edges, whereinwith the cover adapted to be draped over a hook portion of the clotheshanger supported on the clothes pole, the first and second cover endsare adapted to be adjacent to spaced apart ends of the clothes pole, thefront cover edge is adapted to be adjacent to a terminus of the hangerhook portion, and the back cover edge is adapted to be adjacent to wherethe hanger hook portion attaches to a shoulder portion of the hanger; b)a first opening in the cover located between the first and second endsthereof and spaced toward the front cover edge from an apex of thecover; c) a second opening in the cover aligned along a substantiallyhorizontal plane, with the first opening between the first and secondends, but spaced toward the back edge from the apex; and d) a strapextending through the first opening and of a length to extend lower sideof the cover and through the second opening so as to be also adapted toextend about the clothes pole, wherein with a distal end of the strapextending through the second opening, an inner surface of the distalstrap end comprises one of a hook and loop of a hook-and-loop typefastener and an outer surface of a proximal end of the strap residing onthe upper surface of the cover comprises the other of the hook and loopto thereby secure the distal end of the strap to the proximal endthereof, thereby allowing the hook portion of the clothes hanger to besandwiched between the cover and the clothes pole.
 2. A clothes hangerretaining device according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of thestrap is of substantially a uniform width with the proximal end beingwider than the first opening to secure the strap to the cover.
 3. Aclothes hanger retaining device according to claim 1, wherein the firstand second cover ends are provided with respective flanges that extendinwardly.